Democrat James McGreevey leads Republican Gov. Donald DiFrancesco 40 - 32 percent in an
early look at the New Jersey governor's race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. But 25 percent of voters are undecided and both candidates have low recognition.

In a December 6, 2000, poll by the independent Quinnipiac University, McGreevey led
DiFrancesco 41 - 26 percent, with 30 percent undecided.

From January 30 - February 5, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,156 New Jersey registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent. The survey included 310 registered Republican voters with a margin of error of +/- 5.6 percent

"At this early stage, it looks like a generic Democrat v. Republican matchup in New Jersey. Voters don't know much about the candidates, but they'd pick Mayor McGreevey over their new Governor, DiFrancesco. Mayor Schundler is way back in the GOP Primary and in a general election matchup," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

By a 17 - 5 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of DiFrancesco, with 14 percent mixed and 63 percent who say they haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

McGreevey gets a 17 - 6 percent favorability, with 11 percent mixed and 65 percent who
haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

Schundler's favorability is 10 - 5 percent, with 7 percent mixed and 78 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

Whitman made New jersey a better place to live, according to 48 percent of voters, while 15 percent say she made it a worse place and 32 percent say she didn't make a difference.

"New Jersey voters say Christine Whitman did a good job in Trenton and 65 percent are
confident she'll do a good job in Washington," Carroll said. "On that perennial New Jersey issue -- taxes -- they give Whitman so-so marks. And with stories on racial profiling popping up in the headlines, she gets a negative rating on race relations."

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, conducts public opinion
surveys in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Christine Whitman handled her
job as Governor over the last seven years?

Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom

Approve 56% 74% 42% 58% 57% 56%

Disapprove 35 19 48 34 34 36

DK/NA 9 7 11 8 9 9

5. Is your opinion of James McGreevey favorable, unfavorable, mixed, or
haven't you heard enough about him?

16. As you may know, President Bush has nominated Christine Whitman to
head the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
How confident are you that Christine Whitman will do a good job as head of
the Environmental Protection Agency? Very confident, somewhat confident,
not too confident, or not confident at all?